Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin has released the following statement regarding the Texas A&M-SEC issue:
“We are certainly pleased with the action taken last night by the presidents and chancellors of the Southeastern Conference to unanimously accept Texas A&M as the league’s 13th member. However, this acceptance is conditional, and we are disappointed in the threats made by one of the Big 12 member institutions to coerce Texas A&M into staying in Big 12 Conference. These actions go against the commitment that was made by this university and the Big 12 on Sept. 2. We are working diligently to resolve any and all issues as outlined by the SEC.”
SEC Chair Bernie Machen of Florida has confirmed that one Big 12 school is considering withdrawing it’s previous pledge to not pursue litigation against the SEC if A&M jumps to the conference and multiple media reports say that school is Baylor.
SEC Presidents last night unanimously voted to accept A&M as its 13th member with the condition that all other nine schools of the Big 12 reaffirm a letter of Sept. 2 from Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe that pledged no legal interference from the league or any of the nine other schools.
The SEC release said it was assured in the letter that all Big 12 schools accepted the A&M move. But the latest development caused the league to restate its invitation to read “approved upon receiving acceptable reconfirmation that the Big 12 and its members have reaffirmed the letter dated September 2, 2011.”
The statement from Florida president Dr. Bernie Machen, chair of the SEC’s presidents and chancellors:
“After receiving unanimous written assurance from the Big 12 on September 2 that the Southeastern Conference was free to accept Texas A&M to join as a new member, the presidents and chancellors of the SEC met last night with the intention of accepting the application of Texas A&M to be the newest member of the SEC. We were notified yesterday afternoon that at least one Big 12 institution had withdrawn its previous consent and was considering legal action. The SEC has stated that to consider an institution for membership, there must be no contractual hindrances to its departure. The SEC voted unanimously to accept Texas A&M University as a member upon receiving acceptable reconfirmation that the Big 12 and its members have reaffirmed the letter dated September 2, 2011.”
Sources have said that the Big 12 is holding a conference call at noon today to discuss the matter. The letter from Beebe also stated that the Big 12 approval was contingent that a public announcement of A&M’s acceptance into the SEC be made on or before Friday, Sept. 8th.